Like other WHL players during the COVID-19 pandemic, Luka Burzan is just trying to keep his legs moving.
The Surrey-raised sniper, a Brandon Wheat Kings veteran and Colorado Avalanche draft pick, is skating twice a week at a rink in Kelowna, where he now lives.
香蕉视频直播淣othing too crazy,香蕉视频直播� Burzan said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 skating with a lot of pro guys like (Damon) Severson, who plays for New Jersey (Devils), and (Brent) Seabrook, a lot of people know him, and a lot of other guys, too, and there香蕉视频直播檚 really no better place to get better than skate with guys like that.香蕉视频直播�
Still, he香蕉视频直播檇 rather being play meaningful games, but the WHL season has been delayed until the first week of January, at the earliest.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been hanging out with family and some friends, a tight circle, and honestly it香蕉视频直播檚 a little boring without hockey right now,香蕉视频直播� Burzan admitted. 香蕉视频直播淚 feel like I香蕉视频直播檓 missing a big part of my life not being in Brandon and playing, and those guys are like my brothers. It香蕉视频直播檚 been weird.香蕉视频直播�
One activity that will keep Burzan busy is the new , a 64-team eSports tournament featuring all 60 CHL clubs, plus four 香蕉视频直播渄istinguished hockey personalities香蕉视频直播� as guest participants.
The 香蕉视频直播淣HL 21香蕉视频直播� video-game tournament will be played from Nov. 28 to Dec. 17 on the Sony PlayStation 4 system, with Burzan chosen to represent his Wheat Kings.
香蕉视频直播淚 was asked by the team if I wanted to do it, and I thought it香蕉视频直播檇 be fun and a pretty cool experience, kinda cool,香蕉视频直播� Burzan said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been missing some competitiveness, so trying to win something like that would be really good, and I think it will be a cool experience for sure.香蕉视频直播�
The online action is designed to keep junior-hockey fans engaged at a time when on-ice games aren香蕉视频直播檛 happening.
Burzan said he plays the video game 香蕉视频直播渁 fair amount, and I think I should do pretty well, but I don香蕉视频直播檛 know, there are a lot of players involved, more than 60 of us, so I香蕉视频直播檒l try to make it as far as I can,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檒l be hard to win, and some luck will be involved. They香蕉视频直播檒l have it on Facebook Live and Twitch, so the fans should love it, and it香蕉视频直播檒l be fun. They香蕉视频直播檒l get to know the players a bit more, their personalities, so it should be good that way.香蕉视频直播�
Viewers can tune in via and on social media using the hashtag #KiaCHLeCup.
香蕉视频直播� RELATED STORY, from 2019: .
In June 2019 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Burzan was selected in the NHL Entry Draft by the Avalanche, 171st overall. At the time, the left-shot centre had spent with the Wheat Kings and also Moose Jaw Warriors.
Now 20, the Surrey Minor Hockey Association product, who grew up in the Guildford area, had hoped to have a good showing at Avs training camp this past September, but COVID ended those plans.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e really good, and check on me all the time,香蕉视频直播� Burzan said of the Denver-based club. 香蕉视频直播淚 asked them about camp but right now they have no idea how it香蕉视频直播檚 going to look, and hopefully we香蕉视频直播檒l know soon,香蕉视频直播� he said about the coming NHL season, targeted to start in January. 香蕉视频直播淲ith the borders being closed, that香蕉视频直播檚 a bit of a problem. There are so many cases down there.香蕉视频直播�
Burzan said he felt he had 香蕉视频直播渁 pretty good chance of going to camp and proving myself,香蕉视频直播� prior to the pandemic.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone香蕉视频直播檚 goal is to go there and make the NHL, right, and I think I had at least a chance to make the American Hockey League (affiliate team) and get some experience there, but you know what, nobody expected a pandemic to happen,香蕉视频直播� Burzan noted. 香蕉视频直播淪o right now I香蕉视频直播檓 just trying to get better each and every day, and everyone香蕉视频直播檚 going through the same thing. Hopefully this will all be over soon and we can get back to work. But even with (the WHL), Manitoba is code-red. We香蕉视频直播檒l see.香蕉视频直播�
As for the Memorial eCup, the competition starts as a single-elimination tournament, with semifinal and final-round action then seeing players go head-to-head in a best-of-three format.
Other CHL players signed up include Vancouver Giants香蕉视频直播� Trevor Longo along with former Giant Lukas Svejkovsky, now with Medicine Hat Tigers.
Meantime, Vancouver Giants have loaned out two players to junior leagues under a new arrangement designed to give athletes competitive playing time while they wait for the WHL season to resume.
One deal will see 2003-born forward Justin Lies head to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League香蕉视频直播檚 Flin Flon Bombers through Dec. 20 of this year. The Giants have also loaned 2002-born forward Krz Plummer to the Alberta Junior Hockey League香蕉视频直播檚 Whitecourt Wolverines.
香蕉视频直播� READ MORE: .
In other Giants news, the club has hired Manitoba native Keith McCambridge as an associate coach. McCambridge spent 10 seasons coaching in the American Hockey League, with Hartford Wolf Pack, Manitoba Moose and St. John香蕉视频直播檚 IceCaps. Additionally, he spent six seasons with the ECHL香蕉视频直播檚 Alaska Aces where he served as a head coach (2007-2009), an assistant coach (2006-07) and a player/coach (2003-2006).
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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